Mar 28, 2010

Windows-Installer MSI: failing without a trace

Did you ever try to install a program on a microsoft windows OS with msi (Microsoft Installer)? This type of installation mostly works, but sometimes the process ends with a dialog: "There was an error .. Please try again"
And of course, everyone tries again, but just the same dialog. Ok. Reboot. Same dialog...
Hmm - this will not work.
If you ask some friends, you get the typical answers:
  • use a real operating system
  • on Linux this never happens
  • buy a MAC
But not the OS is the problem. The problem is, that there are no logfiles for the installation process.
However, this can be changed:
  • Start regedit and edit the registry at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\
    Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Installer
  • Add Reg_SZ: Logging
  • Set Logging to "v"
  • open a shell via cmd and type "cd %temp%". In this directory you will find logfiles of the next installations.


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